Electric rectifier



Nov. 5, 1935. G. l. RHoDEs ELECTRIC RECTIFIER Filed April 4, 1954 (iQue/Na Nv.5,1935. f G, .l RHODES 2,019,729

ELECTRIC RECTIFIER Filed April 4, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. .#5, 1935 UNITED STATES lPATENT .()vl:"l=`l(E`.v

Emcrmcfanc George 1.l Rhodes, Gien mage, N. I. l Application April 4, i934, serial No. 718,993

7 claims, (ci. iis-ssc) My invention relates to electric rectiflers and especially to those which are well adapted for outdoorservice.

The principal objects of the invention are so to construct the rectifier, which is designed to be mechanical clearance and being formed with an y upward extension constituting a chimney,

Another feature of the invention consists in forming theupper part of the casing with inclined portions which are spaced upwardlyfrom the stacksof rectifier disks and which converge toward the upward extension constituting the chimney portion of the casing. i a Another feature of the .invention Iconsists in arranging the stacks of rectifier disks transversely of the casing and removably supporting them within A it by means releasable from the outside of the cas ing, the bottom of the casing being open to permit the vdownward removal of the stacks of disks and means being provided for screening said opening.

A still further feature of the invention consists in the provision of screen sleeve devices which are associated with the chimney portionof the casing inl such manner as to permit the free passage of air while preventing the entrance of rainl and in- Other features of the invention, residing in advantageous arrangements of parts and details ofy construction, will hereinafter appear and be point'- ,ed out in the claims.

inthe drawings, illustratingthe preferred emv' bodiments of the invention,

, Figure 1 is a vertical central section of an elec-- tric rectifierembodying the invention.

- Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1, looking upwardly, certain of the stacks of rectifier disks being diagrammatically illustrated by dot and dash lines. 4

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the rectifier shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion 0f the rectiiier casing shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 is a detail view, partly in plan and partly in section, of one of the screen sleeves.-

Figure 6 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of the screen sleeve shown in Figure 5. 5

Figure 'l is a detail perspective view of one of the stacks of rectifier disks. i

Figure 8 is a wiring diagram showing the rectier as employed in a system of electrical drainage for preventing corrosion of a pipe line or other 10 linear metallic structure buriedin the earth.`

Figure 9 is an elevational view showing the manner of supporting the rectifier on a pole of a telephone line, such as is commonly found on the right of way of a cross country pipe line. Figure y10 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, .of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 11 is a secticnalfview on the line til-ii of Figure l0, looking downwardly.

Figure 12 is a transverse vertical section on the line iZ-IZ of Figure 10. y

Figure 13 is a detail perspective view of a pori tion of, the modified form of casing, and

Figure 14 is a detail vview showing the manner 25 of supporting the modified form of rectier upon a telephone pole or the like.

In the drawings, l indicates the casing of the rectifier, which is preferably made of sheet steel. The bottom of the casing is preferably open throughout and is adapted to be closed against the entrance of birds, insects or the like by means of a hinged screen or bottom' member2. Suitable means, such as the hasp device 3, are provided for normally retaining the screen member 2 in posi- 35 tion for closing the opening in the bottom of the casing.

Disposed within the casing i is a series of stacks of rectifier disks of copper oxide. `These stacks of rectifier disks are well known. The 40 stacks are arranged in spaced parallel, relation,

each being supported by an axially extending rod 5 that is threaded at its opposite ends, therods 6 being of a length permitting their respective rec.`j tifier stacks to be removed and inserted through the opening in the bottom of the casing, without the necessity of disassembling them from the disks. The sides of the casing are preferably 'formed with a series of oppositely disposed holes 6. One end of each of the rods 5 projects out- 50 wardly through a corresponding'opening 6 in aside wall of the casing and a. nut 1 is applied to the end thereof. The opposite end of each rod 5 may advantageously be sustainedin positionby means of a sleeved thumb nut 8 whose 55 end portion or sleeve 3 projects through the propriate opening 3 inthe casing `side wall and has threaded engagement with the adjacent end of the associated rod 5. The wires Il! and II, re-

spectively, by which thestacks of rectifier disks. vare supplied with alternating current. enter the casing at one end yand are respectively securedl to opposite sides of the casing I by sutablewire clamps I2. Mounted within the casing I on opposite sides of the latter are cut-outs I3 corresponding in number to the4 rectifier stacks 4. each cut-out being connected to one of the wires I or Il and to one of the stacks of' rectifier Each cut-out is preferably provided, in addition toa fuse I4, with a signal lamp I5 whichis conf nected in parallel with the fuse and-is adapted to light, when its associated fuse- I4 fails'. By

this means, a visual indication isvgi'ven, when anyparticular rectifier stackA 4.ceases to function.

To provide easy access through the bottom ofthe qcasing, as well as to attain 'compactnesa without l interfering with the ready removal and replacement ofthe stacks. 4 of rectifier disks through the bottom of the casing I, thefcut-outs' I3 are disposed opposite each other in horizontal alignment with the spaces between the rectifier. stacks to which they are respectively connected, the lamps I5 extending horizontally toward each other and being spaced at a sufficient distance to permit removal and replacement.

v The upper part of the casing I isr constructed so as to give a chimney effect, whereby the heat of the sun is enabled to induce an increased circulation of air through the casing so that, with the same air temperature, the rectifier stacks will run at a lower temperature when the sun is shining than they will when the sun is not shining. To this end, the casing I is extended above the stacks 4 of rectifier Adisks for a substantially greater distance than is necessary to afford clearance for the stacks, the lateraiportions I8 of its 'entering the casing I through the Ventilating openings I8, as well as toV prevent the ingress of insects and foreign matter, these openings are preferably guardedV by sleeve devices I9,which are screened at their opposite ends. These screen sleeves may advantageously be formed from brass and consist of a central section 20 of tubingl and end caps 2i, the tube 20 being cut away at its upper side to form an elongated opening 22. The end caps, which are preferably spun so as to have a push fit on the ends of the tube 20, are in the form of rings whose openings are guarded by screens 23. These screens may be convenient-v ly soldered to their respective rings. It will be vappreciated that any rain which may enter through the screens 23 will be prevented by the tube Zufrom reaching the rectifier stacks or other parts of the device performing electrical functions.

To enable the rectifier to be mounted on an outdoor pole, such as the telephone poles which are usually found along the right of way of a cross country pipe line, the side walls 0f the cassuitable links or straps 21.

aoiavaa apv ing of the rectifier are preferably perforated to receive a transversely extending rod 24 which is threaded at its opposite ends for the reception -of nuts and to provide the .casing at one end on the outside with a fiange portion or lug 25. which 5 may extend entirely across the casing. The flange 25 may be conveniently-formed as an angle iron, which is welded to the casing I. This construction, as shown in Figure 9, permits the 'rectifier to be readily mounted upon an outdoor pole, it being merely necessary Ytoprovide the pole with supporting brackets 26, upon which the flanges 25 of the rectifier -casing may rest and to 'connect lthe opposite ends of the transversely extending supporting rod 24 to the pole 'through 15 As shown in the wiringdiagram, Figure 8. the rectifier is associated with a transformer 28 and where it is used in a system for protecting a pipe line from corrosion, it is connected to the pipe 20 so as to maintain the latter negative, while positive current supplied .from the transformerl is connected to an artificial ground. Where there are a plurality of parallel pipe lines,v the wire 23 through which the current from the rectiflerv25 flows may be provided with suitable taps leading to the additional lines of pipe.' y In the modied form ofconstruction illustrated in Figures 10 to 14, inclusive, thecasing 30 is of somewhat different form fromthat vheretofore 30.`

described andthe cut-outs I3. instead of being secured to the sides of the casing, are mounted upon and projectdownwardly from bars 3| ex' tending transversely of the casing in vertical alignment with the spaces between adjacent 35 ening vthe top ofthe chimney extension of the casing so as to extend beyond the screens. as 45 indicated at 35. To support the rectifier upon an outdoor pole, the casing 30 may beprovided on the outside with an upwardly extending perforated lug 36 for cooperating with a supporting strap 31; and thel casing may be also provided 50 at fone end with perforated lugs 38, whereby it may be bolted to bracket members 39 carried by the pole. In other respects, the details of construction of the modified form ofthe invention are the same as heretofore described and accord- 55 inglycorresponding parts have been indicated `by like reference numerals.

. mittedto exceed temperatures of about 125 F.,

and stacks of disks, such as are employed in my g5 invention, develop a temperature rise of from 15 to 25" above the cooling air, when there is n o restrictionwhatever inl the circulation of the air and there is noexternal heat, such asl sun heat.l Obviously, therefore, on a summer day or .70 hotter, there is little or no margin in temperature leven in the shade, if the stacks of disks are not to exceed a temperature of approximately F. But, by my invention, wherein the casing is formed to provide a chimney effect, the heat of .u

the sun induces an increased circulation of the air, with the result that, at a given air temperature, the rectifier stacksl run at a lower temperature when the sun is shining than when the sun is not shining. v

It will be appreciated that the rectifieris especially well adapted for mounting upon an outdoor pole. The signal lamps provided given visual indication, if the rectier is not properly functioning, and indicate the particularl stack oi' rectifier disks which is not in operation; and the parts are so disposed within the casing that they can be readily reached by a man on the pole,

when the screen door at the bottom or the casing has been opened.

What I claim is:

1. An electric rectiiier involving a casing, means for rectifying alternating electric current, and means for supporting said Irectii'ving means within said casing, said casing being provided with ventilating'openings enabling airto enter at a point below said rectifying means and to pass upwardly through said casing, said casing being also provided with a top portion having a wall spaced upwardlyy from said rectifying means and extending over the-latter and having a chimney extension of restricted cross sectional area projecting upwardly beyond said wall, said chimney extension beingv provided at its upper en'd with means for preventing the entrance of rain, and certain of said Ventilating openings serving to permit air to pass out of said casing adjacent the vupper end of said chimney extension.

2. An electric rectiiier involving a casing, a stack of copper oxide diskswonstituting means for rectil'ying alternating electric current, and

' means for supporting said stack within said cas- 'K ing, said casing having' a bottom opening permitting the insertion and removal of said stack and being provided with a screen for normally guarding said opening, said casing being provided with a wall spaced upwardly from and extending over said stack and having a chimney extension projecting upwardly fromtsaid wall, and said casing being provided with a .Ventilating opening permitting air to pass out of said casing adjacent the upper end of said chimney extension.

3. An electric rectiiler involving a casing, a plurality of stacks of disks constituting means for rectiiying alternating electric current, means for I supporting said stacks in spaced relation within said casing, and cut-outs mounted within said casing between adjacent stacks and electrically connected respectively to said stacks. each of said lcut-outs involving a fuse and a lamp connected in parallel, said casinghaving an opening at the bottom permittingl said stacks and fuses and lamps to be inserted and removed from below.'

said opening being normally guarded by a screen,

and said casing being provided with a top portion spaced upwardly from said stacks and having a chimney extension through which air may pass from the casing.

4. An electric rectier involving a casing, a plurality of stacks of copper oxide disks constituting means for rectifying valternating electric curren and means for removably supporting said stacks within said casing in horizontally spaced substantially parallel relation, said casing having a bottom opening permitting each of said stacks to be independently inserted and removed from belowand being provided with a movable screen normally guarding said opening, said casing being formed with a top portion having upwardly convergent walls and a chimney extension projecting upwardly beyond said walls, said convergentk walls being spaced upwardly from said stacks, and said casing being provided with a Ventilating opening permitting air to pass out of said .casing adjacent the upper end of said chimney extension. Y

5. An electric rectifier involving a casing having side walls and formed with a top portion embodying a chimney extension, a plurality of stacks of disks constituting means for rectifying alternating electric current, and means for removably supporting said stacks within said casing in horizontally spaced substantially parallel relation, said supporting means cooperating with said-side walls and projecting outwardly beyond the latter so as to be capable of manipulation from the outside of the casing, said casing having a bottom opening permitting each of said stacks to be independently inserted and removed from below and being provided with a movable screen normally guarding said opening, and said casing being formed with top walls spaced upwardly from said stacks and extending inwardly from the respective side walls and connecting said chimney extension to said side walls.

6 An electric rectifier involving a casing having side walls, end walls and a top, said casingas beingopen at thebottom and provided with a hinged screen for normally guarding said opening, and said top being formed with a chimney 'extension through which air may pass from the t casing, a plurality of'sta'cks of disks constituting 40 means for rectifying alternating electric current, means for removably supporting said stacks in substantially parallel spaced `relation within said casing, and cut-out means mounted within said casing between adjacent stacks and respectively connected electrically to said stacks, the opening inthe bottom of said casing being adapted to permit each of said stacks to be independently inserted and removed from below. l

7. An electric rectifier involving a casing, means for rectifying alternating electric current,` and means for supporting said rectiiying means within said casing, said casing being provided with a bottom opening and having a screen for normally guarding said opening-and being provided at its top with a chimney extension having l oppositely disposed Ventilating openings permitopening communicating with the interior o! said casing.

- GEORGE I. RHODES.. 

